◆ SpookStack

TOP SECRET That CIA be authorized to initiate operational planning, including covert spotting and assessment of potential agents, for eventual sabotage of both Cuban and American-owned sugar mills. Should this course of action prove feas- ible and desirable, the ~ion would be designed to deny Castro as Euch as possible of the revenues anticipated from the 1960 sugar crop_ 22/ Interestingly enough, although the briefing for DOD had placed considerable emphasis on paramilitary planning, apparently no mention of the subject was made to the Special Group. On 17 February 1960 when Allen Dulles presented the sugar sabotage plan to the Special Group, he em- phasized that he was not asking for perDission to engage in action, only that he was looking for a Special Group approval. Mr~ Irwin (Assistant Secre- tary of Defense for International security Affairs) noted that he and the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Mr. Douglas were all for the plan: and the Group agreed to present the plan to the Secreta-~- of State and to Gordon Gray so that the latter cou1d get the Presi- dent's reaction. President Eisenhower was less than enthusiastic about the sugar sabotage plan, reportedly doubting that the loss of sugar revenues woul~ impact on - 49 - '\ ,f"' GFPPCr